Early Childhood (Birth-Grade 2) Education

Education, Programs in

(Preparation for early childhood, childhood, middle childhood, adolescence, teaching English to speakers of other languages, business and marketing education and dual certification in childhood and students with disabilities or adolescence and students with disabilities generalist)

Utica College offers programs in teacher education that lead to certification in several different teaching areas. In order to be certified to teach in New York State, prospective teachers are required to complete a bachelor’s degree, including the education program requirements, to pass the mandatory New York State Teacher Certification Examinations, and to meet all other regulations of the New York State Commissioner of Education.

Students interested in a teaching career should plan to consult with an education adviser soon after matriculation to discuss career possibilities, procedures for admission to the education programs and the requirements for completion, and for information about the certification areas available. Some education courses require written permission of the chair for registration.

Courses in the education programs include observation and work in the public schools as well as regular course work. The practical application of the theory and principles of teaching and learning culminates in an assignment to area schools for student teaching in the senior year. It is necessary for students to make plans to set aside one of the semesters of the senior year to devote entirely to student teaching.

There are specific admission and retention criteria and policies, including a minimum 2.75 GPA requirement, for the education programs. Students must achieve a grade of C or better in all courses required for certification. There are also additional requirements associated with student teaching.

Utica College also offers master’s programs in education. For more information, consult the Utica College graduate studies catalog.

Learning Objectives

Our degree candidates have a strong knowledge of subject matter.

Our degree candidates demonstrate pedagogical content knowledge and the ability to use this knowledge to design effective lessons.

Our degree candidates teach caringly and effectively and are professionals.

Early Childhood (Birth-Grade 2) Education

Students pursuing the early childhood education program must major in a liberal arts field. At Utica College, the following liberal arts majors are available: biology, chemistry, communication arts, economics, government and politics, English, history, international studies, liberal studies, mathematics, philosophy, physics, psychology, psychology-child life, and sociology and anthropology. In addition to the requirements of their major and the courses in the early childhood education program (listed below), students must fulfill the following requirements (some of which may be satisfied by the Utica College Core curriculum):

Six (6) credits of college-level work in a language other than English

At least six (6) credits in each of the following fields: English, mathematics, science, and history

55 Credit Hours

Note:

Students in the early childhood education program must complete at least 90 credit hours in the liberal arts. Education courses are not liberal arts courses. Consult as early as possible with your adviser to be sure that you fulfill this requirement.